Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is a vast city of seven million running on strong coffee and “easy riders” – there’s not much you can’t transport on the back of a motorbike in Vietnam. Life seems so fast-moving here, that initially you might be left dazed and confused with the rush of it all.

But once you’ve acclimatised, you’ll be hooked on HCMC (as it’s popularly known) – from the alleyway bowls of chicken pho and street corner bia hoi (draft beer), to the splendour of the French colonial architecture, and the incredible shopping in malls, markets and everywhere in between. And when you’re ready for a rest, don’t fret – you can have that for free in one of the city’s pretty parks.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi was first made Vietnam’s capital more than 1,000 years ago by emperor Ly Thai To. It is the atmospheric historic heart of the country, and having been the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1953, is a fascinating fusion of French and Vietnamese culture, architecture and cuisine. The simple street dish, banh mi, epitomises this meeting of countries – light French-style baguettes are filled with pork, shredded carrots and cucumber, spiced up with coriander and chilli sauce for its distinctive Asian flavour. Explore the food while you explore the city: from the chaotic alleys of the Old Quarter, brimming with higgledy-piggledy shops and street eats, to the hip Tay Ho locale where trendsetters enjoy fine dining by the picturesque West Lake.

Da Nang, Vietnam

What people want when they come to Vietnam is adventure – and Danang delivers on all fronts. It has jungle temples, awe-inspiring marble, and limestone hills; caves that beg to be explored; curving, hidden beaches that some would argue are the best in the country; and the frenetic, motorbike-engine hum of a city that is a non-stop caper in itself.

But Danang is changing at a rapid pace. Pinned on the map midway down Vietnam’s South China Sea coast, the country’s third city is quickly moving out from the shadows cast by Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi. In 2014, it hit more than one million residents and the number is still counting. High-rises and modern apartment blocks now pop up at a frantic speed and the ever-popular China Beach is quickly being swallowed by rampant hotel construction. And it is this frenetic pace that makes this city so exciting.